Engine



Nov. 8, 1938. H. l.. LYON 2,135,520

, I ENGINE Original Filed March 9, 1937 Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE Application March 9, 1937, Serial No. 129,949 Renewed December 30, 1937 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in engines, audits objects are as follow:

First, vto provide an inexpensive power-yielding mechanism, herein simply designated an engine, wherein a pliable conduit, which has one end open and the other end connected to a source of pressure fluid, is passed between a revoluble rcylinder and an abutment which is so closely situated to the cylinder as to compress or restrict said conduit at one place until it is closed, the resulting blocking of the passage of the pressure fluid and the reaction of the abutment producing revolution of said cylinder.

Second, to provide motion inthe rotatable element of a mechanism by encircling a wheel or L!" its equivalent, which is a part o-f said mechanism,

with a pliable conduit into which a pressure fluid is introduced, the conduit being squeezed at one place until closed so as to produce a reaction as brought out below. n

Y Third, to provide an engine of theforegoing description in which a pressure-propelled moving constriction in a pliable conduit 'is employed as the impelling force by which to revolve a rotatable element.

following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 -is a perspective View of one embodiment of the invention, k

Figure 2 is a: detail cross-section of the engine takeny on the line 2-2 of Fig. l,

Figure 3 is a rcross section of the engine taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and Y Figure 4 is a detail cross section of the engine ytaken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

As indicated by the foregoing statements of the objects of the invention, the latter comprises a simple and inexpensive mechanism which is 4 adapted to yield power according to a novel principle which, it is thought, has been heretofore neglected. VThis principle is simply stated in the following language: When a pliable conduit, which has one end open and the other end connected with a source of pressure fluid so as to project said fluid into the conduit, is passed between a cylinder and an abutment which is situated so closely to the perimeter of the cylinder as to compress vthe conduit until its bore is closed at one place, the pressure of the uid within the conduit against the constriction will turn said cylinder on its axis.

This principle'is capable of a wide variety of applications. Inasmuch as this disclosure would be unduly burdened by an attempt to illustrate and Other objects and advantages will appear in the Alatter are equipped with nipples 26, 21 to which describe even a small number of such applications, itis thought to be to the best advantage to illustrate and describe a simple form and to mention several deviations therefrom which can readily be visualized without the necessity of illustrations. Attention is therefore directed to the drawing. A base or foundation I of any appropriate type has pairs of standards 2, 3 upstanding therefrom. The rst pair 2 is clearly seen in Fig. .1, the other pair being largely concealed by mechanism which is presently described. The relationship of the two pairs of standards to the base is better seen in Fig. 2.

Blocks 4 and 5 are mounted upon each pair of standards in spaced relationship to the base I 15 and to each other. The blocks .4 are fixed to the standards (Fig. 2) and contain ball bearings 6, 'I upon which the hollow shaft 8 of a drive wheel 9 is journaled. The shaft 8 comprises the axle of the wheel, and the web I 0 of the latter is appropriately secured to the axle. Said axle is bored in from each end to make it hollow as already stated, the bores II, I2 stopping short of the center where a dividing wall I3 is left as shown.

At places closely adjacent to the wall I3 the hollow shaft has communicating nipples I4, I5 to the respective ones 0f which the ends I8 and il of a pliable conduit I8 are secured by clamps I9 or their equivalents. This conduit is applied to and extends around the grooved rim 2G of the drive wheel 9. The major part of the pliable conduit lies in said grooved rim, as plainly shown in Fig. 3, the only break in its continuity occurring at the place where the ends I6, Il emerge at a hole 2I in the web I2 in order to reach the nipples. I4, I5 through which the conduit is placed in fluid communication with the bores I L l2 Stationary chests or chambers 22, 23 provide for the inflow and exhaust of pressure uid into and from the bores II, I2. These chests are supplied With packings 24 and glands 25 by which fluid-tight joints are made around the remote ends of. the hollow shaft 8 at the places where said ends revolubly project into the chests. The

inlet and exhaust pipes 28 and 29 are secured by 45 clamps 3D. The two chests 22, 23 are firmly attached in any appropriate manner, for example by bolts 3I, to mounts 32 which are fixedly upstanding from the base I as are the pairs of standards already mentioned. A rider-wheel or abutment 33 is mounted upon an axle 34 which is journaled upon ball bearings 35, 36 in the blocks 5. These blocks, unlike the blocks 4, are movable upon the pairs of standards 2, 3 as indicated at 3l (Fig. 4). These blocks constitute slides. The axle 34 carries a pulley 38 to which a belt 39 is applied for the transmission of power. The

pulley 3S is shown on the axle 34 merely as one illustration of how power can be taken o' from the engine. Inasmuch as the drive wheel SI turns also, as is presently brought out, it is readily seen that the pulley 38 could be secured to the hollow shaft oraxle 8, the only requirement being to make the axle long enough so as to enable mounting the pulley between one of the blocks d and the adjacent gland 25.

The rim 4i) of. the wheel 33 rides Within the grooved rim 20 of the drive Wheel 9 and upon the pliable conduit I8 so as to compress the latter at one place, designated 4I in Fig. 3, untilfits bore is closed at the point 42. In order to. accomplish this purpose it is necessary that enough pressure be applied to the pliable conduit. The instant illustration shows the two wheels in vertical superimposition so. that the weight. of the rider-Wheel or abutment 33. contributes largely to the foregoing compression of the pliable conduit. However, in order to insure said closure, provision is made for applying any additional Weight required. The spacing blocks 43 which are rigidly mounted upon the standards. 2, 3 also serve as guides for the upstanding rods 4.4, which slide freely in the holes 45; (Fig. 4) with their lower y are stabilized by braces 5.0 which extend from the bridge pieces to` the corners of the base I.

Fromwhat has been stated so far it is readily understood that the slide blocksV 5. always mainthat the combinedv weights of the rider-wheel or abutment 33 and the blocksv 5 by which it is carried are insufficient tolA compress the pliable conduit I8 to the extent of closure. of its bore as depicted by Fig,v 3..

The operation is readily understood. The engine is intended to be run by any commonly known pressure fluid such as steam., compressed air, or'water under pressure. The latter. is heretaken. as. thepressure fluid merely for example. Water under pressure entering the inlet pipe 28 Y by Way of arrow a. i's directed intothe bore II.

(Fig. 2) whence it passes. into. the` end'lly of the pliable conduit I8 as indicated by arrow b.. yThe right side. of the conduit will be. filled (Fig. 3).. Pressure is imposed againstY the closure 42 as indicated by the arrow c. The eiect i'sv to force the constriction 4I tothe left. VBut because of the free mounting ofthe drive and rider-wheels 9, 33'7 the latter will be rotated. in the directions of the arrowsclandn e (Fig. 3).

When the bend 5I adjacent to the conduit-end. I'I has passedv under the riderfwheel 33 the pressure fluid in the pliable conduit will escape from. the, end I'I.` intothe bore I2 (Fig. 2) as. indicated Both wheels are Vhung thesame by the arrow f. The spent fluidA will be disd charged through the exhaust pipe 29. At the same moment the bend 52 (Fig. 3) will have passed under the rider-Wheel 33 and a newY constriction Will have formed in the pliable conduit, there will be a repetition of the foregoing operation until the new constriction is driven along the conduit to the place where a change-over occurs to the bend 5|.

Rotation of the drive and rider-wheels 9, 33 will continue as described as long as pressure fluid is admitted to the pliable conduit I8 in the manner stated. If the pressure iluid is admitted yto the pliable conduit by Way of the nipple I5 (Fig. 2') all of the directions of. movement described abovewill be reversed, an obvious requisite bei-ng that the opposite end of the conduit I8 shall be open to permit the discharge of the spent fluidv when the time arrives.

At this point it is desired to say that the conduit I8 is to be considered in its broadest aspect. Generally it is made round in cross-section, as shown. g Y

Anyone having the rider-wheel 33 in, mind can readily understand that its replacement with a cylinder of any desired length would constitute a modication Within the spirit of this disclosure. This cylinder can be made to compress oneY or more pliableY conduits in the manner already emphasized.

I claim:

l. An engine comprising fixed upright stand. ards, bearing blocks Xedly carried by the standards, a hollow shaft revoluble in the bearingk blocks and having a partition, a drive wheel carried. by the shaft, a pliable conduiton the circumference ofV the drive wheel and having its. ends connectedto the shaft bore at the opposite sides of. the partition, couplings at the ends of the shaft.

for the admission and. discharge of pressure fluid to andffrom the conduit, bearing slides movably carried by the standardsanaxle journalled in said slides and carrying an abutment Wheel the rim of which is imposed upon the crest of the conduit. to compressit to. the.- point of closure, meansl by which to. impose weight upon the slides, and means secured-to. the standards. and provid'- ing guides for parts of theY weight-imposing means. Y Y

2.. An engine comprising a ba se,.pairs of standards xed in the baseandA extending upright therefrom, two blocks fixed in bridging positions on each pair of. standards, serving to hold. the standards spaced, the bottom blocks being bearings and the top blocks having holes. to provide. guides, a hollow shaft. revoluble in'. the bearing blocks andhaving a partition, a drivefvvheel carried by the shaft, apliable conduiton the circumference of the drive wheel and. having its ends` connected tothe shaft bore Vat the cppositesides of the partition, means by'fwhich to admit and-- discharge pressure ui'd to and from the conduit.

at the ends ofthe shaft bore, bearing slides movably carried bythe pairs, cf standards, an 'axlev journalled insaidslides and carrying. an abut ment Wheel the; rim of. which. is imposed. upon the crest. of the conduit, and weight-imposing means tov compress the conduit to the. pointfof closure, said means including rods 'riding in the guide holes and bearing. loosely upon theV bearing 

